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Furness College, Cumbria | Furness College delivers education and skills to inspire and change lives. View our full list of education and training courses online.

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A Level English Language | Furness College, Cumbria

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Furness College is launching a new vocational taster programme to support those not in education or employment to find a career path that suits...

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Furness College, Cumbria | Furness College delivers education and skills to inspire and change lives. View our full list of education and training courses online.

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Prose, Poetry and Drama are the three pillars that make up the study of English Literature at A Level. You will study all three aspects and will compare texts, whilst considering the context in which they were written, as well as when they were set.

English Literature does involve a great deal of reading and writing analytically about the texts whilst taking into account the critical views of others. Being an avid reader is an essential skill for being successful in English Literature.

Do you think you have what it takes to be successful in this subject? To prepare yourself for further study and the start of your course you may want to undertake some of the following:
Reading
The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald (Prose)

Death of a Salesman - Arthur Miller (Drama)

Beloved - Toni Morrison (Prose)

King Lear - William Shakespeare (Drama)

The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde (Prose)

A Streetcar Named Desire - Tennessee Williams (Drama)
Additional Reading
Read an additional text from the writers above to experience more of their work. You will have already read something by Shakespeare as part of your GCSE, and it is possible you may have already come across Arthur Miller if you have studied The Crucible.
Watching/listening
Many theatre companies are offering free access to their productions of some of the plays listed above and many others
http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ http://www.rsc.org.uk/ http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/
You may also have access to 'audible' on Amazon, so you can listen to a reading of the prose texts. The Picture of Dorian Gray is available as a free audible book on stories.audible.com

There are also movie versions of all three prose texts, including Gatsby which is currently available on Netflix. Dorian Gray, King Lear, and Death of a Salesman are all available if you have Amazon Prime. The more you can read (and watch or listen to) over the next few months the more prepared you will be for the rigours and demands of A Level English Literature. Good luck and enjoy your reading.

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A Level English Literature | Furness College, Cumbria

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B A Level English Literature Prose, Poetry and Drama are the three pillars that make up the study of English Literature at A Level. You will study all three aspects and will compare texts, whilst considering the context in which they were written, as well as when they were set.

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Entry Requirements

GCSE Grade 6 in English Language and Literature.

Course Content

The study of English Language at A Level is both interesting and intellectually stimulating. You will study language in use as well as the history and development of English from the distant past to the present day. At the same time you will improve your own writing skills in a variety of forms and for different audiences.

In addition, an extended coursework task - research into a topic of your choice - provides opportunities to explore language use in greater depth, developing initiative, analysis and presentation skills.

Overall, the course encourages you to develop your interest in, and appreciation of, the English Language, learning about structures, functions, development and variations. It also allows you to develop your ability to express yourself effectively in speech and writing, exploring a wide range of concepts, theories and issues.

Assessment

Careers

English graduates have done things as diverse as working in law, design and technology, computing, journal-ism, accountancy, publishing, TV, music, education, retail, catering and writing. The beauty of English at A level is that it prepares you for every-thing in general and allows you to keep your options open during the course of your student life.
Contact Mr Stubbert Governor Link - Mrs Jacqui Barnfield

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GCSE Grade 6 in English Language and Literature. The study of English Language at A Level is both interesting and intellectually stimulating. You will study language in use as well as the history and development of English from the distant past to the present day.

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Entry Requirements

Grade 6 GCSE in English Language and Literature.

Course Content

The study of English Literature at A Level is both enjoyable and challenging. You will learn how to read effectively, to consider the way that writers convey their ideas and will experience a wide range of novels, plays and poetry. Discussion of texts with enthusiastic teachers and students who share your interest in literature will improve your communication skills and your understanding of the power of the written word. In addition, you will learn to express your own ideas clearly in writing.

Study is supported by attendance at conferences and theatre visits. We aim to foster a love of literature that will last a lifetime.

The course offers a varied and interesting selection of set texts, including modern and classic English and American novels, plays from Shakespeare to the present day, and poetry of different periods. You will also learn about different critical approaches to literature.

Assessment

Paper 1 - Shakespeare, drama and poetry pre-1900
40%

Entailing the study of three texts, including one play by Shakespeare.

Includes the study of two prose texts and analysis of an unseen prose extract.

Coursework - Critical analysis and comparison of two texts
20%

Coursework is completed in Year 13.

Careers

English graduates do things as diverse as working in law, design and technology, computing, journalism, accountancy, publishing, TV, music, education, retail, catering and writing. The beauty of English at A level is that it prepares you for everything in general and allows you to keep your options open during the course of your student life.
Contact Mrs Wiper Governor Link - Mrs Jacqui Barnfield

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Grade 6 GCSE in English Language and Literature. The study of English Literature at A Level is both enjoyable and challenging. You will learn how to read effectively, to consider the way that writers convey their ideas and will experience a wide range of novels, plays and poetry.

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English literature allows you to study the written in a way that gives you a deeper understanding of both the text and the author.

You'll get the opportunity to study in detail a range of literary texts from Shakespeare to the 21st Century. It will give you valuable insight into how the written form has evolved both in terms of structure and storytelling.

A Level English Literature will help you analyse and compare a range of genres and forms. This will give you a comprehensive understanding of English literature's rich history and context.

English Literature will inspire or deepen your passion for the written form and can lead on to greater studies. Or a rich and interesting career.

You don't need to have studied English literature at GCSE to take the A Level. However, it will help you to grasp some of the themes and principles.

An A Level in English Literature will also allow you to study related subjects at degree level, as well as providing you with essential skills to help you with your studies.

What you'll learn

A Level English literature covers a wide range of material to give you the comprehensive knowledge you need to carry your studies forward. Or put your analytical skills to use in employment.

During your studies you will learn about:

Literary Genres

Texts are connected through a mainstream literary genre: either Aspects of tragedy or Aspects of comedy. Tragedy and comedy have a long tradition in literature, with their origins in the ancient world and with a specific emphasis on drama.

You will look at older historical form and measure modern texts against them, comparing their approaches to tragedy or comedy.

You will study three texts: one Shakespeare play, a second drama text and one further text.

Texts and Genres

In contrast to the literary genres of tragedy and comedy, the texts in this module are grouped together as having elements of more modern genres: either crime writing or political and social protest writing. These genres, which are heavily influenced by culture, are continually evolving.

You will study three texts: one post-2000 prose text, one poetry and one further text, one of which must be written pre-1900.

Theory and Independence

This component is designed to allow students to read widely and to understand that contemporary study of literature needs to be informed by the fact that different theoretical and critical methods can be applied to the subject.

This area of the course provides a challenging and wide-ranging opportunity for an introduction to different ways of reading texts and for independent study.

Within this literature course you will have the opportunity to work as independently as possible.

Why Study A Level English Literature

A Level English literature gives you the opportunity to study some of the most influential works ever written. It will give you an appreciation of the written form, the motivations and influences of the author and the time in which it was written.

You'll also develop a sharp analytical mind, not only capable of examining things in detail but considering the wider themes and influences. This can be especially useful in business negotiations, analysis or even careers like journalism.

It will also help you structure arguments and improve your communication skills, all of which will help you at degree level and professionally.

An A Level in English Literature can lead to some interesting and rewarding careers:

Digital copywriter

Editorial assistant

Lexicographer

Journalist

Publishing copy-editor

Teacher

Web content manager

Writer

Academic librarian

Advertising copywriter

Arts administrator

Education consultant

Information officer

Learning mentor

Marketing executive

Media researcher

PPC specialist

Public relations officer

A Level English Literature can give you access to so many career opportunities as well as giving you a lifelong passion for studying the written form.

Studying your A Level English Literature at Home

Returning to study can be quite the adjustment. Getting back into that learning mindset can be daunting, even to the point of off-putting. Especially if it means returning to a classroom for the first time in years.

Distance learning allows you to study your chosen course at home, at a time and place of your choosing.

There is no timetable or schedule other than the one you create for yourself around your learning.

Equally, distance learning providers aren't required to follow traditional term dates. That means you can start your course the moment you enrol.

Because the course material is also all online, you can study at any time of the day or night. So if you have a busy home life or you work a shift pattern, you can still fit in your studies.

You can also work through the course materials as quickly as you want. Which means you could be ready to take your exams within a matter of months.

Moreover, online learning often uses multiple mediums to present information. This makes the learning experience more engaging as you'll learn from various formats such as text, video and imagery.

You'll also be assigned an expert tutor to guide you through your studies. They'll provide you with constructive feedback and be there if you ever need assistance.

Studying A Level English Literature is a challenging yet engaging course that can lead you towards an exciting career.

Stonebridge Associated Colleges is one of the UK's leading online learning providers. Offering a variety of accredited A Levels.

We offer flexible payment options to help you spread the cost and an expert tutor to guide you through your studies.

To learn more about how to prepare for your distance learning course read our blog here.

If you're ready to get back into education get in touch with one of our advisers or enrol online today.

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Should I study A Level English Literature?

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English literature allows you to study the written in a way that gives you a deeper understanding of both the text and the author. You'll get the opportunity to study in detail a range of literary texts from Shakespeare to the 21st Century.

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AS and A Level - English Literature - H072, H472 (from 2015) - OCR

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OCR AS and A Level English Literature (from 2015) qualification information including specification, exam materials, teaching resources, learning resources

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5 Reasons to Study A-Level English Literature

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5 Reasons to Study A-Level English Literature

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English Literature students visit the Brontë Parsonage Museum.

Studying for an English Literature degree allows you to develop a thorough knowledge of literary history, theory, and criticism, and enhances your understanding of a wide range of cultures and intellectual traditions. However, it also helps you to develop transferable skills that are highly sought by a wide range of employers.

LJMU's English Literature degree is designed and taught by scholars who are committed to developing your subject-specific knowledge as well as your wider skills and job prospects.

Roger Williamson came to LJMU as a mature student:

"I chose to study English Literature at LJMU for the variety of texts offered on the course. When I compared similar courses offered by other universities, LJMU's English Literature degree promised a healthy number of non-canonical texts to supplement the accepted classics. Personally, I have found the lectures and seminars intellectually stimulating and my tutors, broad-minded."

Here are five big reasons why you should choose to study English Literature at university and for choosing LJMU in particular:

1. It teaches you to think critically about complex topics from different perspectives

This is a skill that we pay particular attention to at LJMU. For example, in your first year you'll learn how to consider literary texts from a number of different theoretical perspectives.

2. It broadens your horizons

At LJMU our definition of 'literature' is particularly broad. Texts that we teach include literary classics such as Paradise Lost and Shakespeare's plays, but they also include, for example, working-class writing, slave narratives, protest literature and prison testimonies. As well as teaching modules that focus on particular periods and genres, we also teach modules that focus on, for example, madness, masculinity, adolescence, place and belonging, terrorism, race in America and the crisis of contemporary capitalism.

3. It enables you to develop transferable skills

Our teaching and assessment methods help you to develop the skills that employers are looking for. Of course, writing essays allows you to develop skills such as carrying out research, developing persuasive arguments and writing in a coherent, articulate way, all of which are important to employers. However, on an English Literature degree at LJMU you'll do a lot more than write essays. For example, in your first year you'll help to lead part of a seminar - in a small group, you'll plan and lead discussions and activities, which is another crucial skill for employers. Other assessments include annotated bibliographies (which help you to develop skills such as report-writing and summarising complex information in a concise way), group presentations (which help you to develop your presentation skills and your ability to work in a team), and close readings of short passages (which help you to develop your ability to analyse details). Some modules also develop your digital skills by giving you the opportunity to engage in collaborative blogging and make contributions to online archives.

4. It provides exciting placement and travel opportunities

Students who take our English Work Experience module take up placements in, for example, teaching, international development, charities, tourism, the media, creative industries and heritage. Our students also have opportunities to study and work abroad through, for example, our Working in the USA module and the Erasmus+ scheme.

5. You'll be learning with the best

Our course is ranked as one of the top English Literature degrees in the UK in the National Student Survey (NSS) - with an average 92% student satisfaction over the last five years.
Literature students take a field trip to St Michael and All Angels' Church in Haworth, the final resting place of the Brontë sisters.
Beti Thomas chose to study English Literature at LJMU:

"Language, and how we use it, has always been something that has fascinated me. This was obvious in school as this is something I excelled in (maths was definitely not my forte). With this in mind, I knew I wanted to proceed in doing an undergraduate degree in English, but why did I choose LJMU? I had plans to visit other universities, but as soon as I came to an LJMU Open Day, I stopped looking. This was the university for me. I loved the fact that LJMU is a city-based campus, which enabled someone like me, who is relatively independent to get a taste of student life as well as feeling integrated in the Liverpool community. The English Literature degree at LJMU is different from any other I had looked at. The creativity and freedom within the modules is refreshing, as they have enabled me to play to my strengths and interests in other areas also, such as history and politics."

Learn more about the BA English Literature degree and the range of option modules available.

Find out what lecturers from the English department had to say about the books that LJMU students voted as their favourite.

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English Literature students visit the Brontë Parsonage Museum. Studying for an English Literature degree allows you to develop a thorough knowledge of literary history, theory, and criticism, and enhances your understanding of a wide range of cultures and intellectual traditions. However, it also helps you to develop transferable skills that are highly sought by a wide range of employers.

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What Can You Do With an English Literature Degree

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What Can You Do With an English Literature Degree

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While there's more to an English literature degree than reading hefty tomes until your eyes go square, it's fair to say that reading and analyzing written works is likely to be pretty central to your studies. During an English literature degree, students scrutinize and debate a variety of texts, as well as acquiring knowledge of literary movements, periods and critical approaches that have shaped the way we view literature today.

If you choose to study English literature at university, you'll develop comprehensive written and spoken communication skills, becoming adept at arguing a point, framing a narrative and analyzing various levels of meaning.

But what every English Literature student wants to know is, 'What can you do with an English degree once you graduate?' The answer to this question is more longwinded than you might expect, as English degree graduates can be found in more or less every industry, filling a variety of roles - from editor to academic, and legal advisor to manager.

Read on to explore the many answers to the question 'what can you do with an English degree?' - plus get tips on how to boost your employability within each area.
Typical careers with an English degree
Although there's no one industry which takes precedence, English degree graduates are often found where strong communication and written English skills are top priorities; for example, within the worlds of media and publishing.

On the one hand, the widespread demand for good communication skills means English literature degrees offer lots of potential career paths. But, since this is a non-vocational subject, students may want to consider gaining work experience during their studies- a good way to get a feel for different options, and often an essential asset when it comes to applying for graduate jobs.

For instance, students who know they want to go into magazine publishing upon graduation will likely need experience in a similar environment, either from an internship undertaken during their studies or involvement with a student publication, such as a university newsletter, magazine or website. Some more ideas on how to boost graduate employability within each industry are listed below.
Media and journalism careers with an English degree
Encompassing a whole bunch of smaller industries, the media sector covers everything from film to television, newspapers to news blogs, advertising to PR and gaming to game reviewing. Depending on your area of interest, there's a niche for just about any English graduate, whether you want to produce, write, edit, review, schedule, promote, manage or run.

Careers in media can be very competitive. Unless you're dedicated to the industry and have the work experience record to show it (see below), strong starting salaries for careers in media are hard to guarantee. In addition, those wishing to pursue journalism as a profession may benefit from a specialized graduate degree in this field.

How to boost your graduate employability: Internships and/or placements; a media blog; an active presence on social media; personal portfolio of work (e.g. a compilation of reviews, scripts, photography, film projects etc.); proven interest in current media landscape (in film, television, journalism, digital media etc.).
Publishing careers with an English degree
Although often intersecting with the media world, publishing does in fact belong to a distinct sector. In recent years, the publishing industry has seen much disruption, thanks in large part to the digital revolution. Although this means many traditional print publishing companies are becoming smaller or struggling to survive, those that have adapted to the world of digital publishing are continuing to thrive - and in need of graduates with the skills to help them keep evolving.

Digital publishing encompasses areas such as e-books and electronic journals (e.g. scientific periodicals), as well as online magazines and news sites. English graduates entering publishing careers may be involved in a variety of areas, including administration, production, editorial, marketing, public relations and sales.

To land a job in publishing you will need to have a passion for books, a good level of computer literacy and a strong knowledge of trends within the industry. Whilst it's better to have work experience in the industry, be careful not to be taken advantage of by unpaid work experience - most publishers now at least offer minimum wage for work experience placements.

How to boost your graduate employability: Intern or undergo a placement at a publishing house; self-published blog; creative portfolio; knowledge of the contemporary world of print and digital publishing.
Teaching and academic careers with an English degree
Although careers in teaching often require additional qualifications and/or experience, an English literature degree can be a great way to develop the academic knowledge and communication skills needed.

To teach at primary or secondary level, you'll usually need to complete a professional teaching qualification and gain some experience working with children and/or young adults. For university-level teaching, you'll be required to gain at least a master's degree (in the field you wish to teach) and often also a PhD, as many universities combine teaching and research roles.

Careers in teaching and academia can also tie in with careers in media. For instance, university tutors often submit papers to journals, contribute to or author entire books, and comment on contemporary issues in the mass media.

How to boost your graduate employability: Previous teaching experience (e.g. tutoring, mentoring, teaching English abroad); work with children and young adults (e.g. mentoring, child-minding, youth project volunteering); contributions to research projects (e.g. research assistant work).
Advertising, marketing and PR careers with an English degree
Roles in advertising, marketing, and public relations have become increasing popular and sought-after by English graduates. Elements of marketing, advertising and PR are available across many different sectors and almost every business contains at least small elements of these.

While still involving high levels of creativity and excellent communication skills, these roles all demand more of an explicit focus on generating profit and expanding business or brand reach. This revenue-based mindset is also often paired with higher starting salaries compared to more purely artistic/creative media roles, and career progression possibilities are often more clearly defined. With technology becoming more involved in marketing, advertising and PR, it's becoming more of a requirement for students to be technology savvy.

Read more about careers in marketing here.

How to boost your graduate employability: Experience in sales and marketing roles; knowledge of how to promote yourself (or a product/service) using social media; a creative portfolio of ideas. Other common careers with an English degree

As well as the industries listed above, there are many other roles English graduates can handle with ease. Other common careers with an English degree include librarianship, archiving, bookselling, information and research, tourism, events management, social work, youth work, probation work, human resources, retail management and sales.
Less typical careers with an English degree Careers in the public sector
An umbrella term for state-funded roles within the public domain, the public sector is responsible for hiring large numbers of administrators, civil service workers, health service workers, government workers and police/armed forces personnel every year. Depending on the country you wish to work in, this can give you a huge number of options in terms of travel, personal growth and career progression.

English degree graduates are likely to be well suited to public sector roles in English-speaking countries, thanks to highly developed spoken and written communication skills, the ability to research and analyze complex written information, and the ability to contextualize issues based on historical, political, cultural and social contexts. To work in the public sector, you will have to be highly organized, have exceptional leadership skills and an ability to effectively make decisions. You should also be able to think flexibly in order to solve problems in a creative way.

How to boost your graduate employability: Demonstrable interest in the field (e.g. volunteering experience in a government agency); awareness of current affairs; work experience requiring strong organizational skills; a formal structured work placement (either over the summer or a year working in industry).
Careers in law
Those who study English at university are also likely to develop many of the skills required for careers in law and the legal sector, although a graduate-level degree will be needed for many legal roles like a barrister or solicitor. Despite this restriction, there are many careers in law available with just an undergraduate-level degree. These include administrative, organizational and research-based roles, within local and national courts (both civil and criminal), as well as government agencies and independent legal firms. A paralegal or legal secretary, for example, will often hold just an undergraduate degree.

Those wanting to enter the legal profession but don't possess a law degree can also complete a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). This is a year-long full-time conversion course that brings non-law students up to date on the relevant knowledge needed to train as a barrister or a solicitor. To enter this, you will need a 2:2 grade or above in a recognized non law degree.

Find out more about careers in law here.

How to boost your graduate employability: Demonstrable interest in the legal system (e.g. a law or political affairs blog); strong organizational skills and attention to detail; some understanding of legal jargon.
Careers in business, accounting and finance
If you're that rare breed of student who can manipulate both words and numbers with equal dexterity, then you may want to put your broad skillset to use within the business world. For highly numerate graduates, careers in accounting and finance are a very real prospect.. You'll need good grades in mathematics at secondary education level and may need to pass a numeracy test conducted as part of the job assessment process.

Not all roles in business are based entirely on numbers, of course. Entry-level administrative roles can provide opportunities to develop skills in leadership and strategy, building on the communication skills you augmented during your degree. Here, hard work, initiative and collaboration will determine your chances of progression, with the possibility of gaining on-the-job training and further qualifications depending on the employer.

How to boost your graduate employability: High levels of numeracy; experience in leading a team (e.g. a university project); experience working within a team; understanding of some elements of the business world (e.g. sales/administrative experience); interest in current economic climate and business markets.

And finally, what can you do with an English degree if you don't want to go into any of the areas above? More career possibilities include banking, freelance writing, lexicography, interpretation/translation (for bilingual graduates), therapy and psychology (with additional studies).

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'What Can You Do With an English Literature Degree?' is part of our 'What Can You Do With...' series. We have also covered art, biology, business, communications, computer science, engineering, fashion, history, geography, law, marketing, mathematics, performing arts, philosophy, politics, psychology, sociology, chemistry, economics and physics.

This article was originally published in January 2015. It was last updated in October 2019.

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What Can You Do With an English Literature Degree?

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While there's more to an English literature degree than reading hefty tomes until your eyes go square, it's fair to say that reading and analyzing written works is likely to be pretty central to your studies.

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The lack of science, maths and language teachers has been talked about for years. But a shortage of English teachers has gone under the radar. Although last year's target for new trainees was met, in the two previous years it was missed. English used to be among the most popular subjects, both to teach and to learn. Lessons had a reputation for being creative, thought-provoking - and even fun. Philip Pullman, David Almond and Joanne Harris were all teachers before they became authors. But dramatic reductions in the number of A-level entries and applications to study English at university suggest that some of the enthusiasm long associated with English has drained away.
Teachers to be helped to job share to prevent classroom exodus
The figures are most startling at A-level, where the number of students in England taking English language or literature has fallen 25% since 2013 (a pattern mirrored in Wales and Northern Ireland but not Scotland). While a demographic dip (fewer 18 year olds) partly explains this, the fall in English entries is far bigger than the overall 6.5% drop in entries - English has lost more students than other subjects. Undergraduate enrolments on English degrees have also fallen: from an all-time high of around 51,000 in 2011/12 to 39,000 last year, although the proportion of English A-level students who go on to study it at university has hovered around 14% for a decade.

It makes sense to view the decline of English studies as part of a bigger, international story about the weakening of the humanities, and its counterpoint: the rise in Stem (science, technology, engineering and maths). Enrolments in humanities courses in UK universities overall have fallen sharply. The number of students beginning foreign language courses fell by 10% last year; art and design by 5%. Similarly in the US, a longterm decline in the popularity of humanities courses accelerated sharply after the financial crisis of 2008/09; having accounted for 22% of all US degrees in the late 1960s, they now make up less than 5%. Writing in the Atlantic last year, historian Benjamin Schmidt called this a "crisis", arguing that the cause is students' anxieties about the job market and an increasingly instrumental view of higher education as a means to boost future earnings (even if graduate employment statistics provide limited justification for the switch from arts to sciences).

As someone who took only humanities subjects from age 16 and sometimes regrets this, I am sympathetic to the idea that students, especially girls, should be encouraged to stick with what does not necessarily come as naturally as studying one's native language. I think a broader curriculum for 16 to 18 year olds would be beneficial, as would a stronger commitment to foreign languages.

That said, I think the decline of English - which I take to encompass all literature (Irish, Nigerian, American as well as British) written in it - is a cause for concern, and not just because it threatens the supply of school teachers. I chose English because the way literary forms could be used to convey ideas and feelings interested me more than anything else. The things I read at school - Wilfred Owen's shattering war poems, DH Lawrence's imagistic stories, Shakespeare's king of self-pity, Richard II - made deep impressions on me. So did my later encounters with modernism: James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, the facsimile edition of TS Eliot's manuscript for The Waste Land, with all its crossings-out and scribbled amendments, in the university library.

It's true that the route through such activities to the workplace is not obvious. But Alex Thomson of the University English association believes student debt and "propaganda about Stem being the route to a high-wage job" have obscured more complicated truths about the world of work. He fears that the uneven impact of such messages will result in a social narrowing, and the increased concentration of people from well-off backgrounds in humanities-linked careers in media and arts, which they already dominate.

As schools are forced to be academies, the will of the people means nothing | Aditya Chakrabortty

But there is another factor that he and others believe has played a bigger part in putting students off English. And that's what is happening to the subject in schools, where spelling, punctuation and grammar (referred to by the acronym SPaG) have, under the core knowledge curriculum championed by schools minister Nick Gibb, come to dominate. Education consultant Myra Barrs is among the critics of what she calls a "new formalism", in which content and meaning are sacrificed to a recipe-type approach (take an adverb and some wow words, add a pinch of unusual punctuation ...) You don't have to be against the traditional staples of grammar or Shakespeare to see the pitfalls of this, or the constricting effect of the enormous importance placed on GCSE grades.

There is a pragmatic argument to be made, in English's defence, about the creative industries' contribution to the UK economy, and a case to be made for the subject as a forge for tools of critical inquiry. Despite belonging to a generation taught by literary theory to be suspicious of universalism, I also believe too in the humanistic role of literature in advancing a more expansive and democratic version of Englishness than the nativist one: a culture that is curious about different meanings, new forms and other voices as well as taking pride in its own traditions.

This approach recognises in poetry, prose and drama from all times and places a means for people to communicate with each other. Right now, as we teeter on the brink of an uncertain future, there is an unanswerable case for English as one of the UK's most valuable resources. It should be open to all young people growing up here.
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Why study English? We're poorer in every sense without it | Susanna Rustin

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The lack of science, maths and language teachers has been talked about for years. But a shortage of English teachers has gone under the radar. Although last year's target for new trainees was met, in the two previous years it was missed. English used to be among the most popular subjects, both to teach and to learn.

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Studying English Language at A-Level and Beyond

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Studying English Language at A-Level and Beyond

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Erika Darics, Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics at Aston University, explains what the study of language has to offer, not only in terms of the valuable skills you'll develop, but also because the content of what you study will turn you into a critically and socially aware person.

As I am working on the review of a journal article, I have two documents open in front of me. The first one is a recent article in The Atlantic talking about the crisis of humanities subjects. The trend of students "fleeing" humanities is shocking, and the drop in the number of those who sign up for English degrees (down 49% in US institutions in the past two decades) is particularly painful for me - a lecturer of applied linguistics. The statistics come from the United States, but a similar picture is emerging in the UK university system.

But I am not only upset because I'm passionate about my subject - my confusion is related to the other document I have open in front of me: the Employer Survey conducted by the Association of American Colleges and Universities. In this report executives and hiring managers have been surveyed about the skills they value as the most important for new graduates, the very skills offered by humanities degrees: oral and written communication skills, critical thinking, teamwork, or one's ability to apply knowledge in real life.

I am puzzled: why do students avoid subjects like English for fear of poor job prospects when the real world clearly needs their skills: language-savvy, good communicators with excellent analytical and critical thinking skills?

Language is Everywhere

Just think about it: language is woven into every aspect of our lives. You may be woken up by the voice of the news presenter and register the headline about Trump's latest conundrum. You go on to take a shower and the 'cosy-chatty-witty' label on your shampoo makes you smile. On the way to school the slogan on a new billboard catches your eye. You notice the sign in your favourite coffee shop and wonder when words like 'frappuccino' and 'babyccino' were first invented. You absent-mindedly glance at the leaflet about an exhibition that was just pushed in your hands. As you approach the school gates, you hear your mates sharing a saucy story before suddenly changing their topic and tone when they see the biology teacher appearing from round the corner.

Before you had even had a chance to say your first 'good morning', you were exposed to language through marketing and corporate communication, political discourse through media reporting, you wondered about language change and the ways we use language in interaction differently in different contexts with different people.

The problem with language is that it is so self-evident that we barely stop and take notice. This is why we are not always aware of just how important it is: the words we choose, the grammar we use, the topics we decide to raise have a direct influence on our thoughts, our actions and even on what we believe to be real.

Language in Business and Politics

Language works in subtle ways, subconsciously - something that is often exploited in business and in politics! To give an example of the former, imagine you want to buy some milk chocolate. Which one of the two brands would you consider as creamier: a brand named Maluma or a chocolate named Takete? What was likely to influence your choice might be the fact that sounds can evoke certain emotions and sensations ( it's called sound symbolism or crossmodal-correspondence). Therefore understanding how sounds work (something that you may pick up in a phonetics or phonology class) is enlightening for you as a consumer, and receiver of marketing messages, but may also become exceptionally useful if you end up in any work that involves promotion, branding or marketing.

The way language subconsciously influences our thinking is also of huge significance in the political arena. Think about how your reactions may change if you hear a story about political refugees or - changing the frame - of immigrants "flooding" or "swamping" the country, or taking it even further, referring to people like 'animals'. Clearly, the labels we use will influence what we believe to be true and real: in the previous example whether we perceive immigration as a cause or as a threat.

How Language Can Influence Behaviour

And if this weren't enough, apart from influencing thinking and perception, language can also have a very direct effect on people's behaviour. In a famous experiment for example, researchers tested the reaction of people waiting to use the photocopier. They designed three scenarios, where a person wanted to jump the queue. The three scenarios only differed in the wording of the apology offered by the person who wanted to break in:

1) Excuse me, I have 5 pages. May I use the xerox machine?

2) Excuse me, I have 5 pages. May I use the xerox machine, because I have to make copies?

3) Excuse me, I have 5 pages. May I use the xerox machine, because I'm in a rush?

What they found is that simply using the word 'because' and giving a reason resulted in significantly more compliance (93% as opposed to 60% compliance where no reason was given). This was true even when the reason was nonsense, such as "because I have to make copies". The researchers thought that the act of explaining itself and the use of because was enough for people to look favourably on the queue-jumper's request.

Of course the impact of our words on how people act may not always be so straightforward, but if we understand the role language plays in influencing behaviour it may be very useful in many areas of our lives. Just think about negotiating who washes up the dishes or negotiating business or political deals, when you want to persuade friends to see a movie or motivating and persuading employees at a work, or for example when you want to communicate confidence during the first date, the first job interview or that all-important business pitch.

What Studying Language and Linguistics Can Do for You

The study of English Language or Linguistics will help you understand how people communicate and assign meaning (semantics), how they do things with words (pragmatics) or how language relates to social factors (sociolinguistics), psychological aspects (psycholinguistics), or power and injustice (discourse analysis). Studying these subjects will open your eyes to a world that has previously been hidden in plain sight. I'm taking a long shot by assuming that you have seen the 1999 cult movie, Matrix - if you haven't you really should! As one of my students said, studying various aspects of language is like the awakening of the main character, Neo in Matrix. When he swallows the red pill he becomes aware of the false world that has been hidden from him, he learns to read 'the code' and understand the true nature of his world.

By studying language in depth, you will develop critical awareness and gain invaluable skills for your future working life - vital communication, analytical and critical skills. But importantly, such critical awareness will allow you to be a conscious, critical human being who is able to challenge taken-for-granted assumptions, understand the role of language in social control, propaganda and manipulation, and be able to use this understanding to make the world a less oppressive, more equal and just place.

emagazine Editors' Suggestions for Applying for Undergraduate Courses

If you are thinking of studying linguistics or English Language at university you don't have to have studied A Level Language, though obviously having done so will give you a really good idea of what it will entail and an introduction to some of the modules you may end up taking.

There is a vast range of courses on offer. Linguistics can be a subject on its own but it is also often taught within Modern Languages departments, alongside a whole host of languages. English Language tends to be taught within English departments, where the focus is, as the name suggests, more on the development of the English language than on linguistics in general, or comparative linguistics. Language and linguistics both feature in many different combined degrees.

Most universities offer courses in Linguistics or English Language. The list below gives a flavour of some of the vast range of courses on offer. Erika Darics' own teaching is on a BSc in Business Management and English Language.

Linguistics

Speech and Language Therapy

History of Art/Archaeology and Linguistics

English Language and Linguistics

Linguistics and Philosophy

Linguistics and Psychology

English Literature and Linguistics

Linguistics and French/German/Spanish/Russian and many other modern languages

Comparative Literature and Linguistics

History and English Language

Linguistics and Sociology

Linguistics and Social Anthropology

Psychology, Philosophy and Linguistics

Business Management and English Language.

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Why Study English Language or Linguistics at A Level and Beyond

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Erika Darics, Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics at Aston University, explains what the study of language has to offer, not only in terms of the valuable skills you'll develop, but also because the content of what you study will turn you into a critically and socially aware person.

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Lancaster University: English Literature and Creative Writing

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Lancaster University: English Literature and Creative Writing

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Research

In the most recent national assessment (REF 2014) we were ranked third in our discipline for research power. Our research is uniquely shaped by the juxtaposition of the critical and the creative and by our location in the historic city of Lancaster, with its medieval castle and the nearby Lake District, home of Romanticism. We enjoy strong links with the Ruskin Library, the Wordsworth Centre, Lancaster Literature Festival and are home to the Centre for Transcultural Writing and Research.

Our Research

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In the most recent national assessment (REF 2014) we were ranked third in our discipline for research power. Our research is uniquely shaped by the juxtaposition of the critical and the creative and by our location in the historic city of Lancaster, with its medieval castle and the nearby Lake District, home of Romanticism.

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PhD students win best presentation awards at language testing conferences

Congratulations to Linguistics and English Language PhD students Raffaella Bottini and Camilo Ramos for each winning a presentation award at the Language Testing Forum 2021, and to Franz Holzknecht for winning an award at the Language Testing Research Colloquium 2021!

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Congratulations to Linguistics and English Language PhD students Raffaella Bottini and Camilo Ramos for each winning a presentation award at the Language Testing Forum 2021, and to Franz Holzknecht for winning an award at the Language Testing Research Colloquium 2021!

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Teaching from: September 2015

Exams from: June 2016 (AS), June 2017 (A-level)

Specification code: 7701 7702

QAN code: AS: 601/4846/9; A: 601/4640/0

Our AS and A-level English Language specifications will enable students to build on the skills they've developed at GCSE, by engaging creatively and critically with a wide range of texts and discourses.

Our flexible specifications give you the scope to bring your own unique skills and specialisms to the classroom, and get the best possible results for your students.

You'll use exciting and relevant text and data-based sources to teach what you enjoy and to inspire your students in their study of English Language.

Our English AS and A-levels provide strong stand-alone qualifications that are designed to be co-teachable. This gives you and your students valuable choice.
Specification Specification at a glance
Past papers and mark schemes

Teaching resources

Prepare for your teaching year. Information, support and services to help you deliver the specification.
All planning resources

Teaching resources that you can use to plan your lessons and support your students' learning.
All teaching resources

AQA do understand how hectic it is to be a teacher and they really keep us up to date and show their awareness.

Juliette McGirr,
Teacher

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skip to content Teaching from: September 2015 Exams from: June 2016 (AS), June 2017 (A-level) Specification code: 7701 7702 QAN code: AS: 601/4846/9; A: 601/4640/0 Our AS and A-level English Language specifications will enable students to build on the skills they've developed at GCSE, by engaging creatively and critically with a wide range of texts and discourses.

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Create a bespoke scheme of work using the extensive range of resources we have provided for each specification.

Each specification has been broken down into statements and mapped to individual teaching activities.

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AS and A Level - English Language - H070, H470 (from 2015) - OCR

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Create a bespoke scheme of work using the extensive range of resources we have provided for each specification. Each specification has been broken down into statements and mapped to individual teaching activities.

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The skills you gain through studying English are marketable in most sectors. Read on for inspiration on where you could use your degree

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Take a few minutes to answer the Job Match quiz and find out what careers would suit you

Work experience

As English is a non-vocational degree, it's important to include skills developed outside your study on your CV.

At university, for example, many English students write for student newspapers and magazines, get involved with student radio or film societies, or volunteer in the community or local schools. Evidence of any skills gained from work experience and extracurricular activities, as well as through study, can help boost your job prospects.

If you have a particular career in mind, apply for relevant work placements and summer internships to get some practical experience and to find out whether you would enjoy the role, and to build up a network of contacts. Opportunities will be advertised on company websites, on sector job sites, careers service websites and in national newspapers. For experience with smaller companies, you may have to approach them directly.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

English graduates find opportunities with many different employers, across a range of public, private and charity sectors, including:

administration

advertising, marketing and PR

arts management

education

events management

finance

general management

leisure and hospitality

research

retail

tourism.

Employers such as advertising marketing and public relations agencies, media organisations and publishing companies, the NHS (National Health Service), educational institutions, financial and legal firms and local and national government, all value the broad set of skills English graduates have.

Find information on employers in media and internet, marketing, advertising and PR, public services and administration and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

The major strength of all English graduates is the ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Studying an English degree also develops skills in:

independent working

time management and organisation

planning and researching written work

articulating knowledge and understanding of texts, concepts and theories

leading and participating in discussions

negotiation and teamworking to present ideas and information

effectively conveying arguments and opinions and thinking creatively

using your judgement to weigh up alternative perspectives

critical reasoning and analysis

using IT.

Bring the world to life

Study our literature or creative writing Masters courses

Further study

Some English graduates choose to continue their academic studies by doing an MA or a PhD in areas such as English language and literary studies, creative writing, Victorian, fantasy or mediaeval literature, or linguistics.

Others choose to study more vocational postgraduate courses in areas such as teaching, journalism, librarianship or law. Such courses allow you to study in an area you wish to enter as a career. More information on funding for postgraduate study and research is available from the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC).

English graduates may decide to undertake professional vocational study in areas such as marketing and management, finance, human resource management and business to enhance their knowledge of a specific career area.

For more information on further study and find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search postgraduate courses in English.

What do English graduates do?

15% of English graduates who entered employment found roles as teaching professionals. Sales, marketing and related associate professionals (11%), media professionals (9%), and artistic, literary and media occupations (7%) are also among the top five jobs held by English graduates 15 months after graduating.

Find out what other English graduates are doing 15 months after finishing their degrees in What do graduates do?

Graduate Outcomes survey data from HESA.

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Find out what jobs, internships and courses you can do with an English degree.

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Linguistics expert David Crystal is in Russia to give a series of lectures. At the UK-Russia Linguistic Symposium at the Russian State University for the Humanities in Moscow, he described 'the future of Englishes' and the evolution of global varieties of English across the world. Keira Ives-Keeler of the British Council in Russia explains. Advertising campaigns give an insight into how languages evolve
What role does advertising play in the evolution of languages and the relationship between language and cultural knowledge? Using the example of the well-known Heineken slogan, 'Heineken refreshes the parts other beers cannot reach', David Crystal explained how this initial phrase evolved with the help of word play. Over 30 years, the phrase came to represent an ad campaign with 300 variations on the same phrase, with the word 'parts' substituted with everything from 'parrots' to 'pilots' to 'poets'.
Understanding different cultures helps people understand different languages
David Crystal recounted the difficulties he had in explaining the Heineken campaign's meaning to a group of Japanese English language teachers when they stumbled across a billboard for it whilst on a study trip to the UK. Their confusion highlighted the importance of cultural understanding as a tool for understanding languages.

He found it equally challenging to convey the same message and humour to an American friend when they came across the same billboard just a week later -- demonstrating that even native speakers often require cultural context in order to fully understand phrases in their mother tongue, as culture inevitably shapes the language that we use on a daily basis. As a localised national advertising campaign run exclusively in Britain, only those living in Britain and exposed to the campaign would understand the reference to 'refreshing the parrots that other beers cannot reach'. The phrase was utterly incomprehensible to anyone outside of that specific context.
New forms of 'English' are swiftly evolving
Crystal estimates that around 60-70 new 'Englishes' have emerged since the 1960s in countries across the globe. There are an estimated 400 million people who speak English as a first language and 7-800 million people who speak English as a second language. Around a billion more speak English as a foreign language. This means that now there is just one native speaker to every five non-native speakers of English -- an unprecedented situation in the history of languages. It also means that people are no longer exclusively looking to Britain. British English is now a minority amongst the many 'Englishes' that are spoken around the world.

'English is of no use beyond our shores', stated the Earl of Leicester upon returning from his tour of Europe in the late 1500s. Indeed, Chaucer asked why anyone would want to study English: a language 'with no literature' (as David pointed out, though, anyone lucky enough to have studied Chaucer would be able to confirm that his works are almost unintelligible to modern English speakers). And yet, in the very same year, Shakespeare emerged from his 'lost years' - a period from 1585 to 1592, when it was thought that the playwright was perfecting his dramatic skills and collecting sources for plots -- and produced some of his finest work. Just over a decade later, Walter Raleigh's expeditions in the early 1600s saw American English take root within a matter of days, with terms such as 'wigwam' and 'skunk' appearing and becoming commonplace extremely quickly. It takes very little time for a language to evolve; this language 'of no use beyond British shores' grew from a population of four million speakers to two billion in just 400 years.
A language's development reflects the power of those who speak it
So how exactly did that happen? How did English grow so quickly and seemingly so unexpectedly? According to Crystal, in spite of the widespread notion that this is due, at least in part, to the fact that it is an easy language to learn, 'without any grammar', as some people have said, there is something much deeper behind the exponential growth of English as a global language. Crystal suggests that a language's development is a direct reflection of the power of those who speak it. From the beginnings of the British Empire, to the industrial revolution in Britain, which brought significant technological and scientific developments and a number of influential inventions from English-speaking inventors, through to the continued economic power of the 19th century and cultural power of the 20th century, English has maintained its edge.
Speakers of English adapt the language to their local context
Turning his attention to colonial and post-colonial environments, Crystal suggested that even in countries where English was seen as the language of oppressors, complexities in the linguistic make-up of the local environment (for example, Nigeria where 500+ languages are spoken) meant that a 'better the devil you know' approach was adopted 'because at least everyone hates English equally'. This meant that English was adopted as an official language and then adapted to the local context. Within months of independence, thousands of new words appeared, linked to politics, food and drink, folklore and plants. Fifty years on, these words are featured in dictionaries of global English -- there are 15,000 Jamaican words and 10,000 South African words alone.

This trend of 'Englishes' in the plural shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. But nothing lasts forever. Who knows whether English will retain its position as the widely accepted lingua franca. And if it does, then how many 'Englishes' might evolve? How can we prepare our students and in particular younger generations for this culturally diverse future?
Further information on David Crystal's visit to Russia can be found on the British Council Russia website.

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David Crystal described 'the future of Englishes' and the evolution of global varieties of English across the world.

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he story of English spelling is the story of thousands of people - some well-known, most totally unknown - who left a permanent linguistic fingerprint on our orthography. It's a story whose events cover the best part of 1,500 years. And, of course, it's not over yet.

The story starts with the missionaries who first wrote down English as best they could using the Roman alphabet. They made a reasonable job of it - once they'd found extra letters to cope with the sounds they didn't have in Latin, such as th, in both thin and this. The spelling of Old English was largely phonetic: all letters were pronounced. They sounded the w in write, the g in gnat, the k in know.

Then the French arrived, with their own ideas. Out went some of the old forms and in came new ones. Cwen became queen; mys became mice. Medieval scribes continued to spell words as they were pronounced, but as English had many regional accents, the result was a huge amount of variation. More than 60 spellings of night are known from the middle ages - nite, nyght, nicht, nihte ... Things couldn't carry on like that. As government became more centralised, the need to develop a standard system became urgent. But whose standard? That of widely-read authors such as Chaucer? The emerging civil service? The English translations of the Bible? The printers? The modern system emerged out of all of them.

Each new factor brought idiosyncrasies as well as order. William Caxton's Flemish typesetters didn't know English well, so spelled some words in a Flemish way. That's where the h in ghost comes from. It was gost in Middle English. They put it into goose too - ghoose - but it didn't catch on. That's the great mystery of English spelling: why some spellings have appealed and others haven't.

There was still a great deal of variation, though, so in the 16th century spelling reformers came up with their Big Idea: etymology. If the word meaning "money owed" appeared in such varied ways as det, dett or deytt, people obviously needed help, and this would come from the word's history. The word was debitum in Latin, so they recommended a silent b. You might think such an arcane idea would never catch on, but it did - along with the b in subtle, the l in salmon and the p in receipt, and many more. In trying to simplify the system, the reformers ended up complicating it.

The big dictionaries of later years, such as Johnson's and Webster's, did their best to standardise spelling, but with only limited success. Today, there are many differences between British and American English. And publishing houses (and newspapers) vary over such words as realize and realise, judgment and judgement, flower pot, flower-pot and flowerpot. Encyclopedias make different choices over foreign names - Tutankhamen, Tutankhamun, Tut'ankhamun; 15% of words in our dictionaries have alternative spellings.

And we ain't seen nothin' yet. Spellings are made by people. Dictionaries - eventually - reflect popular choices. And the internet is allowing more people to influence spelling than ever before. In 2006 there were just a few hundred instances of rubarb on Google. By 2010 there were nearly 100,000. This month there's around 750,000. People are voting with their fingers. The original medieval spelling without h is reasserting itself. It will be a standard alternative one day, and - who knows - may eventually supplant rhubarb entirely.

Spell it Out: The Singular Story of English Spelling by David Crystal is published next month by Profile

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David Crystal: the story of English spelling

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he story of English spelling is the story of thousands of people - some well-known, most totally unknown - who left a permanent linguistic fingerprint on our orthography. It's a story whose events cover the best part of 1,500 years. And, of course, it's not over yet.

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There are some things in life we can justifiably be "zero tolerant" about, but punctuation is not one of them. Zero tolerance is possible when there is a clear-cut contrast between two behaviours, one of which society agrees to be right and the other society agrees to be wrong. People are zero-tolerant of child abduction, for example. Lynne Truss and others do us a disservice when they suggest that punctuation "errors" - such as the use of a plural apostrophe, as in potato's - is something to which we should give no quarter. I wrote The Fight for English to explain why, and to dissuade people from going down that path.

Truss would have a case if punctuation was something which everyone completely agreed about. Then it would be easy to identify errors. There are indeed many areas of language where such agreement exists. It is an error to put the article after the noun, for example (as in cat the), because no one ever does this in any dialect of English, standard or nonstandard. It would be an error to spell rhubarb as rubarb, because this is not a recognised variant form in any part of the English-writing world. The problem with punctuation is that most of its features do not present such a clear-cut state of affairs. Alternative usages exist, and there are many exceptions to the rules. When an area of language is so messy, it is not fair to be zero-tolerant - with all the belligerence that this phrase evokes - when someone finds the learning of it to be a problem.

The plural apostrophe is a case in point, as there are so many exceptions which allow the practice. The normal punctuation for the following sentence is to use an apostrophe: We need to dot the i's and cross the t's. Indeed, it is difficult to avoid doing so. Dot the is would be a serious reading miscue; and relying on an alternative typeface (such as an italic i) is awkward, especially in handwriting. Similarly, we find do's and dont's, and many more. Even the 19th-century printers (who tried to establish the possessive apostrophe rule) recognised that there were exceptions. They allowed a plural apostrophe after abbreviations ( she has three MA's), numerals ( he hit three 6's), and dates ( in the 1990's). There is a tendency today to omit the apostrophe in some of these cases, but the alternative usage is still widely encountered. So here we have a raft of usages where we have to be tolerant of the plural apostrophe.

In the case of such usages as potato's, we need to understand why people make the error in the first place, if we hope to correct it. Why is there an apostrophe in such cases as MA's and i's? Because these are words which end in a vowel. Most nouns in English end in a consonant. When a noun ends in a vowel, it feels odd to pluralise it by simply adding an "s". Volcanos looks as if the ending might rhyme with "toss". So early on in English there was a trend to indicate the 'oh' sound by adding an "e" (volcanoes, potatoes). But not all words did this (pianos, casinos), and in such cases there was a natural tendency to remind readers of the "oh" pronunciation by using an apostrophe. In some cases, there was a real possibility of ambiguity (is logos the plural of logo or the Greek word for "word"?). Using an apostrophe in nouns which end in a vowel is something we find from the very moment apostrophes arrived in English, in the 16th century. We find them throughout Shakespeare's First Folio, in Dr Johnson's Dictionary, and right through to the present day.

In terms of modern orthographic practice, potato's is of course wrong. It is not a standard English spelling, and if people want to be perceived to be educated they need to learn it. But if they have not learned it, then something has gone wrong with this aspect of their education. The system has let them down, and they have, in effect, been left with a literacy handicap. The "zero tolerance" approach recommends that we angrily harangue greengrocers and others who have failed to learn the standard English norms.

I don't like an approach which blames people for their handicap, even in jest. I think such energy would be better spent trying to improve an education system which has left huge holes in their literacy. Such a situation requires sympathetic intervention, not balaclava'd condemnation. That is why I am zero tolerant about Trussian zero tolerance.

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Punctuation is no place for zero tolerance

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Lynne Truss and others demand a rigidly standard English, but our language has fewer unbreakable rules than they want.

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The English language is as fascinating as it is popular and obviously has its own history and quirks. Instead of only focusing on grammar and other theoretical aspects, don't forget to enjoy its more entertaining side. To help you with this task, we have compiled a list of thirty fun and interesting facts about the English language. Continue reading to learn them and get ready to impress your friends with your newly gained knowledge or win your next trivia game with these English facts!!

How many people speak English?

Over 840 million people speak English as a first or second language, which makes it the second most-spoken language right after Mandarin. It is an official language of a whopping 67 countries as well as 27 non-sovereign entities such as Hong Kong or Puerto Rico.

Let's get to the fun facts about English language!

1. English actually originates from what is now called north west Germany and the Netherlands.

2. The phrase "long time no see" is believed to be a literal translation of a Native American or Chinese phrase as it is not grammatically correct.

3. "Go!" is the shortest grammatically correct sentence in English. Find out some of the longest words in the English language.

4. The original name for butterfly was flutterby.

5. About 4,000 words are added to the dictionary each year.

6. The two most common words in English are I and you.

7. 11% of the entire English language is just the letter E.

8. The English language is said to be one of the happiest languages in the world - oh, and the word "happy" is used 3 times more often than the word "sad"!

9. 1/4 of the world's population speaks at least some English.

10. The US doesn't have an official language.

11. It is the only major language that doesn't have any organisation guiding it - as opposed to the French Académie française, the Spanish Real Academia Española and the German Rat für deutsche Rechtschreibung. These organisations are responsible for controlling the evolution of their respective language in terms of usage, vocabulary, and grammar.

12. The most common adjective used in English is "good".

13. The most commonly used noun is "time".

14. The word "set" has the highest number of definitions.

15. Month, orange, silver, and purple do not rhyme with any other word.

16. The English language contains a lot of contronyms - words that can have contradictory meanings depending on context.

17. Over 80% of the information stored on computers worldwide is in English.

18. Words that are used to fill in time when speaking, such as "like" or "basically", are called crutch words (and should best be avoided!)

19. English is the official language of 67 countries.

20. 90% of English text consists of just 1000 words.

21. There are 24 different dialects of English in the US.

22. The word 'lol' was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2011.

23. What is known as British accent came to use in and around London around the time of the American Revolution.

24. Shakespeare invented many words, such as birthplace, blushing, undress, torture and many more.

25. The word "Goodbye" originally comes from an Old English phrase meaning "god be with you".

26. Etymologically, Great Britain means "great land of the tattooed".

27. There are seven ways to spell the sound 'ee' in English. This sentence contains all of them: "He believed Caesar could see people seizing the seas".

28. Many English words have changed their meaning over time - for example, "awful" used to mean 'inspiring wonder' and was a short version of "full of awe", whereas 'nice' used to mean "silly".

29. The first English dictionary was written in 1755.

30. The oldest English word that is still in use is "town".

Now you've got the facts, it's time to impress your friends at the next pub quiz!

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Discover 30 fun facts about the English language | Lingoda

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The English language is as fascinating as it is popular and obviously has its own history and quirks. Instead of only focusing on grammar and other theoretical aspects, don't forget to enjoy its more entertaining side. To help you with this task, we have compiled a list of thirty fun and interesting facts about the English language.

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Mother Tongue: The Story of the English Language

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Buy Mother Tongue: The Story of the English Language 01 by Bryson, Bill (ISBN: 9780141040080) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

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Buy How Language Works First Paperback Edition by David Crystal (ISBN: 9780141015521) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

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Jobs that use English and Drama - BBC Bitesize

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All the latest BBC Bitesize content about jobs that use english and drama.

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Free Homework & Revision for A Level, GCSE, KS3 & KS2

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Free revision for your GCSE & A Level exams. Join over 6.5 million students learning 2x faster across 250+ exam board specific A Level, GCSE & KS3 Courses.

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"Students who may have fallen short due to lack of understanding a question in an exam can target the area of knowledge they are missing through a RAG system. GCSEPOD helps me to target students in those specific areas to improve their understanding and in turn, increase their attainment." "I Use GCSEPOD as homework for students so they have an good foundation and understanding of the key facts ready for their next Science lesson. This in turn, builds their confidence to answer questions." "No paper homework, students use POD to demonstrate their knowledge when completing homework." "As a RQT, my knowledge is something which will develop throughout my career. As it does in every teachers career. Using POD allows me to be ahead of the game in my understanding." "Oh my! I set pods as intro's to new topics etc and love when a student tells me a fact and says 'It said in the pod..'"

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An award-winning digital publisher for 28+ GCSE/IGCSE subjects. We are dedicated to improving the working lives of teachers and making GCSE learning stick.

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SparkNotes: Today's Most Popular Study Guides

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SparkNotes are the most helpful study guides around to literature, math, science, and more. Find sample tests, essay help, and translations of Shakespeare.

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York Notes: Bestselling English Literature Revision Study Guides

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OFFICIAL York Notes website. UK's bestselling GCSE, A Level & Undergraduate English Literature revision guides. Over 250 titles - Print, Online, Kindle, ePub, Android, iPhone, iPad

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GCSE is the qualification taken by 15 and 16 year olds to mark their graduation from the Key Stage 4 phase of secondary education in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

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Our lesson planning and teaching resources were initially created at the height of the pandemic with a range of schools, publishers and organisations. With the worst of the pandemic now thankfully behind us, we've been discussing new arrangements with our partners.

We've been working hard to keep all our lessons and resources available. You'll still be able to access and fully rely on 85% of our content for the full year ahead, with no changes.

Unfortunately, due to restrictions and the end of licences from some of our partners, we have had to remove some lessons and subjects in certain key stages. We're really sorry as we know the changes will cause inconvenience.

Continued access via United Learning's platform

Lessons for the following subjects have now been taken down from our online Classroom and Teacher Hub. We're pleased, however, that you'll continue to be able to access these for free from United Learning's own platform:

KS3 and KS4 science: new sample resources

You can now access a small number of new sample KS3 and KS4 science lesson resources via Oak. Find out more about our sample science lessons.

Other limited changes on the Oak platform

The following, more limited, changes have also been made:

KS4 MFL lessons

Not all lessons are affected, but across all units of KS4 French, German and Spanish, there have been changes to some lessons. In the affected lessons, due to copyright restrictions we've removed the video lessons and transcripts, and updated lesson slides to remove some speaking and listening exercises. Where they were already available, our worksheets and quizzes are still there for you to use to support your teaching.

The exercises that have been removed from the slides can be found in textbooks by Pearson. You can find the textbook and page references in the curriculum map appendices tables we've linked to below (second tab, final column). These documents also include a breakdown of the lessons and information about the grammar, vocabulary and sounds of the language each lesson should cover, so teachers who do not have access to the relevant textbooks can plan appropriate exercises of their own.

Save these documents to your Google Drive by clicking on File > Make a copy. Or download a copy by clicking on File > Download.

English

We have removed the following units and lessons only:

Key stage 2:

The Fate of Fausto - Narrative Writing;

The Day the Crayons Quit - Persuasive writing;

The British by Benjamin Zephaniah;

Demon Dentist by David Walliams;

Street Child by Berlie Doherty;

Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian.

Key stage 3:
The sonnet through time,: 'The sonnet-ballad', Gwendolyn Brooks.

Citizenship

A small number of citizenship lessons have been removed. Use our lesson directory to find the lessons that have been removed.

Specialist

A small number of specialist lessons have been removed. Use our lesson directory to find the lessons that have been removed.
All other units, key stages and subjects will be unaffected and, as above, you'll still be able to access and fully rely on these for all of 2022/23.
Plan for the changes using our directory

To help you navigate these changes, we've updated our Lesson and Resource Directory: a downloadable document detailing every one of our lessons.

We've highlighted the lessons that will be changed or moved from Oak and made available on United Learning's platform.

As part of our plans for the future, we'll be working with schools and expert organisations in the years ahead to create new, improved resources in all of the above affected subjects. You can read more about our plans here.

When we initially created our lessons, we never envisaged they'd be available for so long, so we want to thank all our partners for the amazing support they've given.

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Access to some of our lessons has changed

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Learn about why some of our lessons are now unfortunately unavailable, where you can find some of them elsewhere and what our future plans are.

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In this course, Professor Tom Mole (University of Edinburgh) explores the poetry of Christina Rossetti, focusing in particular on the fourteen poems listed for study for OCR English Literature A Level (excluding 'Goblin Market'). A detailed commentary ...

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Sophie Ratinckx: HR Business Partner AutoTrader

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Sophie Ratinckx: HR Business Partner AutoTrader